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Quick laps with Mark Webber

It was a flying visit of a quite special kind: Tracy Austin, the winner of the first Porsche Tennis Grand Prix in 1978, visited the Porsche test track in Weissach together with Samantha Stosur – for a few quick laps with Mark Webber.

The former World Endurance Champion Mark Webber flew around the circuit with the tennis ladies in a Porsche 911 GT3 and a Porsche 911 GTS, always keeping to the racing line and close to the limits of physics in some of the bends. At speeds of up to 260 km/h, it was not something for the faint-hearted. Stress-wise, it was akin to a third set tie-break in a Grand Slam final.

“I thought I was going to have a heart attack,” said Tracy Austin – but with a blissful smile on her face. The American drives a Porsche back home but she freely admitted that she now really knows just what the car is capable of and how quickly and safely it can be manoeuvred. Samatha Stosur was also excited. After the adventure in the passenger seat, she realised, “why racing drivers have to have such strong neck muscles.”